What Paul; Harris Said - Paul Harris and Christmas

One Christmas and prudence learned.

“GRANDFATHER, who had always been so provident and had worried so much about the improvidence of his son and daughter-in-law, feared above all things that I too might develop spendthrift habits. In one way and another, he tried to encourage me to save, his first step being to start an account for me in the Rutland Savings Bank and to exhort me to make it grow. I did not follow his advice ve...ry strictly but somehow, the account did grow, grandfather spurring me on.

I remember that one deposit was made as a result of an experience with which I was not at all in sympathy. It happened on a Christmas morning. It had been my custom to hang up my stocking Christmas Eve, with the expectation that I would find it stuffed to overflowing in the morning and that there would also be sundry packages lying around too large for admission to the stocking.

Trembling with excitement, I crept out of my bedroom before daylight, made my way across the dining room and felt my way to the mantel in the sitting room. I found the stocking right where I had hung it but to my unutterable amazement and disappointment, it hung limp and empty so far as I could see. My sobs soon brought grandmother to my side and she told me to feel again in the stocking; to thrust my hand away down deep. I did so and extracted a tiny package, which when unwrapped proved to be a five dollar gold piece. Had it been a rock, it could not have been more meaningless and again I broke down and sobbed. I had been expecting the customary books, skates, a watch perhaps, popcorn, candy and other things beyond even my own lively imagination; if Christmas was to be anything less than an introduction to fairyland, it was to be nothing at all.

 

Later in the day after many conversations between grandfather and grandmother, grandfather said to leave the matter to him. Under his orders, I hung up my stocking again and waited a reasonable time for Santa Claus to make a return visit. Eventually, I again made my way to the mantle, and, with many forebodings, reached my hand down deep into the stocking and what did I find? Another five dollar gold piece. Shades of my grandfather! Another five dollars! It was more than human nature could bear and I set up a howl in tune with the disappointment within me.
 

Grandfather declared that he had gone his limit so grandmother took matters in hand again, with the result that the good things, all that I had dreamed of and more, were realized. Grandfather did not withdraw his gifts; the two bright five-dollar gold pieces were added to my savings account; a good day's work for a youngster who had not long since passed his ninth birthday.
 

Strange to say, in spite of my lack of enthusiasm for saving, the account grew to fifteen hundred dollars before I became of age. When eventually my savings became subject to my disposal they were expeditiously put to use. I am glad to be able to say, however, that I used most of them to pay obligations of my father's family, of which there many and of a pressing nature.
 

Thus ended all likelihood of my becoming a millionaire. As a matter of fact, I don't believe grandfather would have had me be one. He was known even in our village where thrift was the order of the day, as a frugal man. The few spendthrifts of the village might have thought of him as miserly, although I have never heard that characterization of my grandfather…….."

 

as to be nothing at all....."

 

Paul Harris' Greetings for the season:

"To each of our friends and members around the world celebrating each in their own manner during this holy and wonderful season, we wish the best of health, happiness, peace and joy.”